Age Catches Up: Inter Miami Crushed by Vancouver Whitecaps

Vancouver Whitecaps expose Inter Miami's weaknesses with a dominant 3-1 win, highlighting the challenges faced by Lionel Messi and his aging teammates.

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami suffered a humiliating 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final second leg. The defeat marked a 5-1 aggregate loss, exposing significant flaws in Miami's game.

The convincing win highlighted Vancouver's dominance, leaving little doubt that the scoreline accurately reflected the match's events. Miami's struggles were evident, raising concerns about their performance moving forward.

Inter Miami's reliance on aging stars like Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba proved costly as they were outpaced by the faster and sharper Vancouver Whitecaps. Despite winning the Supporters Shield last year with a record-breaking campaign, the team's decline highlights the challenges of sustaining peak performance with aging players.

The 38-year-old Suarez, who scored 20 goals last season, now appears visibly fatigued, struggling to maintain his usual positioning. Busquets, once an exceptional midfielder, has noticeably declined, while Alba, though still an attacking threat, seems to have neglected his defensive responsibilities.

The second half starts now⌛

📻Listen here: https://t.co/pwfwOFlf67: pic.twitter.com/1D0ow3dkEI

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 1, 2025

Lionel Messi, despite being 37, can still deliver magical moments on the field. However, his age is starting to show, and he now needs teammates who can complement his abilities with youthful energy and endurance. Instead, he's surrounded by aging friends from his Barcelona days, which might not be the most effective strategy.

Coach Javier Mascherano's decision to bench younger, homegrown players further exposed Miami's limitations. The Vancouver Whitecaps capitalized on the space left by Miami's veterans, highlighting the team's need for fresh, energetic players to support Messi and revitalize the squad.

Analysis of Inter Miami's Defeat

Warren Barton, a Fox television pundit and former Premier League defender, bluntly pointed out Inter Miami's weaknesses after their loss to Vancouver: “They can't run, can't defend... there's no balance in the team. Because five stay up front and the other five try and defend. And they can't defend.”

Vancouver's coach Jasper Sorensen was more diplomatic but still acknowledged the team's advantage: “I think it is fair to say that we have a younger team and also a team more capable of running and playing with high intensity.” This contrast in styles exposed Miami's limitations and highlighted the challenges they face with their aging roster.

Vancouver's coach Jasper Sorensen attributed his team's success to their strong start in the second half, saying, “I think we really came out very strong at the start of the second half and exploited that the pitch was very open, they had some players that stayed up front, so we had to defend with a few guys, and I just said 'keep on running, run forward...'”

Termina el partido. pic.twitter.com/6Xe0uNQAD3

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 1, 2025

Sorensen's observations highlighted Inter Miami's tactical issue, where some players remained upfront without tracking back to help in midfield, an approach that struggled against Vancouver's high-energy style. Meanwhile, Miami's coach Javier Mascherano has shifted his focus to the domestic MLS campaign, putting the FIFA Club World Cup on hold for now.

Inter Miami's upcoming FIFA Club World Cup fixtures against Al Ahly, Porto, and Palmeiras will put their abilities to the test on a global stage. If they repeat their lackluster performances against the Whitecaps, they risk embarrassment and potentially tarnishing their reputation.

This also poses a challenge for Major League Soccer (MLS), which has been working to shed its image as a retirement league for aging stars. Miami's struggles, fueled by poor recruitment choices, could undermine the genuine progress the league has made, as highlighted by the Whitecaps' impressive display against Miami.

“But we have to accept that our opponents... outplayed us. Now we have to focus on MLS. I'm not thinking about the Club World Cup. There's a month and a half to go and it would be a mistake to focus on that,” added the Argentine.